CHICO — A walk in Bidwell Park to benefit people with autism and their families is planned April 1.

The 5K walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. at One-Mile Recreation Area.

The entry fee is $10. People can register at One-Mile the day of the event or they can register in advance and be guaranteed a walk T-shirt.

To register in advance visit http://nvcf.org and click on The Yellow Door link on the left side of the page.

Money raised by the walk will go to programs that help children with autism and/or their families. In addition, the funds may go toward scholarships for students studying in fields related to autism.

Josie Cline, a faculty member at Chico State University, and Kevin Schiffmacher, a Chico State student, are organizing the march, which is planned to be an annual event.

Many larger cities have autism walks, said Cline, who is program coordinator for the Autism Clinic at Chico State.

For a few years, parents of autistic children have been asking her about organizing an autism walk in Chico, Cline said.

This year, the time seemed right, she said. That’s because Schiffmacher, vice president of philanthropy and community service for Chico State’s Interfraternity Council, informed her that fraternity members were interested in helping to promote public awareness of autism.

Schiffmacher and Cline planned the walk and formed The Yellow Door, a fund affiliated with the North Valley Community Foundation. The Yellow Door fund will hold proceeds from the walk, which is being called Chico Walks for Autism.

Cline said she expects people with autism, their families, students and members of the public will take part in the walk.

At Chico State, Cline said she works with adapted physical education for people with disabilities. The Autism Clinic helps autistic people “improve motor skills and play skills,” she said.

The name “The Yellow Door” comes from an individual with autism who Cline worked with a number of years ago. The person, who liked doors, was asked what the best color for a door would be and replied, “yellow, because it’s like opening a door of sunshine.”

Cline can be reached at 518-2495 or ajcline@csuchico.edu.

Staff writer Larry Mitchell can be reached at 896-7759, lmitchell@chicoer.com. or follow him on Twitter @LarryMitchell7.